Shane Williams has spent nearly 12 years tearing away from opponents in the red of Wales, but on Saturday there will be a tear of a different kind as he makes his 87th and final appearance for his country three months shy of his 35th birthday.

Wales made it Shane Williams day in training on Tuesday. Players and coaches wore masks of the wing's face, he was asked to read out the lineup for the match against Australia in Cardiff, pictures of him adorned the team-room and one was even placed above the urinals in the squad hotel.

Few players have touched the Welsh rugby public as much as the will-o'-the wisp wing Williams, who has decided to retire from international rugby after a record 57 tries for Wales, two grand slams, three World Cup campaigns and two tours with the British and Irish Lions, before the decision was made for him.

"I am not someone who likes to cry in front of millions of people, but, to be honest, you could well see that happen on Saturday," said Williams. "I am not going to act all macho and say that I never cry. If I do shed a tear, I hope people will forgive me. I imagine that my last game will be overwhelming."

Ever the professional, Williams said his farewell was of secondary importance to Wales's quest for a first victory over a Tri-Nations side for three years. The World Cup semi-finalists will be without the injured second rows Luke Charteris and Alun Wyn Jones, who both face missing the Six Nations campaign, the prop Adam Jones, the scrum-half Mike Phillips and the centre Jonathan Davies.

"It will be a great day for me if I go out with a bang, celebrating a victory," said Williams. "I am more excited than upset that it is going to be my last game for Wales. I am determined to end it with a win and what matters above everything is that we carry on as we performed in the World Cup. The future for Wales is exciting. We have a number of talented youngsters coming through, brimming with confidence."

Williams had intended to retire from internationals at the end of the World Cup, but was persuaded to make himself available on Saturday so that he made his farewell on his own soil rather than on some distant field in New Zealand. A crowd of around 60,000 is expected in Cardiff.

"I believe this is the right time to go," he said. "There are no hidden agendas. I could have carried on hoping to get to 100 caps and beating the international world try record, but if it had meant not playing well, I would have been bitterly disappointed. That is not what I am about."

Williams made his debut in 2000 as a replacement against France. His first touch of the ball provided an interception try for Emile Ntamack, but he started the next game against Italy and scored his first try in Test rugby. "It will always be the most memorable," he said.

"My Wales career looked over in 2002. Much was made of my size, strength and ability and I tried to become more physical by putting on weight. It backfired and ever since then I have done it my way. By 2007‑08, I was so confident in my ability that I felt invincible. I will miss the camaraderie of being in the squad and the mickey-taking and there would be no better way to sign off than with a win against a top side."